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“I really sincerely regret that this has happened. I apologize for all these inconveniences. Let us return to the scenario we are working on,” Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said at the beginning of Wednesday night’s session at Seimas.
“We will not have the same opinion all the time, we will not agree on many issues, there will be some procedural actions, that is natural. I do not think it was necessary to reach this stage in this case, I am very sorry that it has happened and I would like us to take a step back and appoint an editorial board, “he said.
Vytautas Mitalas, vice president of Seimas, who chaired the morning session, also apologized for the mistake made: the repeated vote was announced.
The Seimas agreed that the resolution on discrimination against small businesses should not be rejected entirely, but an editorial group should be formed to improve it.
Representatives of the opposition group expressed the hope that such behavior by the rulers would not be repeated and returned to the Chamber.
“We really want to find a way to work together. The situation is uncomfortable and unpleasant for both the office and the opposition. No one needs such efforts. We sincerely hope to find a way to cooperate in the future. The dictates of the majority are not the basis. of democratic activity ”, said the social democrat Gintautas Paluckas.
You claim your rights are being violated
In this way, the groups of “peasants”, social democrats and “workers” reacted to the decisions of the deputies of the Seimas of the ruling majority to vote on some legal acts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the vote was announced when the Seimas approved next year’s budget, when more than half of MPs approved an additional $ 46 million. for science and education. A vote was announced on Wednesday on whether to amend or reject the resolution initiated by the opposition to prevent discrimination against small businesses in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is a practice to vote, to vote whenever a solution is reached that suits the rulers. That cannot be, “Vigilijus Jukna, the largest of the Labor Party faction, told reporters.
“The Ethics and Procedures Commission has repeatedly clarified that after the vote, if a member of the Seimas has made a mistake, it is only a protocol record, and this does not change the result of the vote. But the presidency ignored him and announced a new vote. We believe that we need to have conscience, self-esteem, at least read the statute, ”said Aušrinė Norkienė, the oldest of the“ peasants ”.
Gintautas Paluckas, president of the Social Democratic Party, affirmed that during the voting, the democratic rights of the opposition were violated.
“A serious violation of the statute, first of all, by not allowing our two self-isolating Seimas members to vote and by allowing the almost self-isolated conservative Laurynas Kasčiūnas to vote. This is a misunderstanding,” said G. Paluckas.
“The second thing, those votes and reevaluations, until you summon yours from all angles, going beyond the statute is a very poor political practice that we really do not want demonstrations for the next four years. Until we find a consensus with the rulers, we really don’t see an opportunity to work like this, “he said.
The conservative president of Seimas Jurgis Razma hoped that passions would subside and the opposition would return to the evening session after the break. He also deplored that the conflict flared with the consideration of a resolution, a document without legal consequences.
“We will see what it will be like when we meet in the evening session, of course it is difficult to get 71 votes for unopposed receptions, but I hope those protests do not last and we will work together again.” There is a break, let’s talk, I hope there are ways to talk to the opposition, “Razma told BNS.
Resolution rejected
The resolution received 62 votes in favor, 17 against, and 43 abstentions, which was not enough to support the resolution. Subsequently, the Seimas decided whether the resolution would be edited and presented with amendments. 63 members of the Seimas voted in favor and 62 deputies voted in favor of the resolution being rejected entirely.
After Emanuel Zinger changed his vote to reject the resolution, the opposition left the House in a repeated vote.
“Discrimination has already occurred, today is the last golden day before Christmas. Therefore, I suggest that we should compensate, think immediately about how people will live after losing their golden period, ”said Laima Mogenienė, representative of the“ peasants ”in the Seimas.
He proposed allowing small entrepreneurs to work as well, with the obligation to comply with all quarantine requirements.
“The only objective and normal criterion should be the ability of companies to comply with the strictest quarantine requirements established by the Government. It cannot be for greatness, for minority. There just has to be a very clear criterion. Even the most company small, if it can guarantee safety and requirements, it should be able to work, “said L. Mogienienė.
Conservative Jurgis Razma pointed out that we should talk about trade in food and non-food products, not discrimination against the little ones.
“It just came to our attention then. It is found among those who trade in groceries and where they trade in non-food items. (…) You are misleadingly pretending that the government is against the petty. of groceries sell. The question of unfair competition between those who trade in food and non-food products must be raised, “said J. Razma.
The resolution emphasizes that government decisions on the management of the pandemic discriminate against small entrepreneurs in relation to large retail chains: the latter are still allowed to trade not only in basic products, but at the same time small businesses are prohibited that sell similar products.
The members of the “peasant” faction of the Seimas called on the Government to take into account the arguments expressed in the draft resolution and implement the solutions used in Lithuania in the spring to ensure safe trade and services for small businesses, and propose the immediate abolition of discriminatory restrictions on small businesses and markets.
The drafters of the resolution proposed to review the resolution and evaluate the possibilities of other commerce and provision of services in the field, when all the necessary security requirements are guaranteed.
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